Race sailors lead celebs in BT Sport Relief challenge<\/p>\n
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Marc Bow\/Comic Relief Ltd<\/p>\n
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Corinna Halloran\/Team SCA\/Volvo Ocean Race<\/p>\n
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Matt Knighton \/ Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing \/ Volvo Ocean Race<\/p>\n
Six British celebrities will join race sailors as they take to a Volvo Ocean Race boat and attempt to sail around the United Kingdom in the BT Sport Relief Challenge: Hell on High Seas (full story below).<\/p>\n
– Six celebrities will sail a Volvo Ocean Race boat around the UK<\/p>\n
– Boat to be skippered by Ian Walker, with a crew of race sailors<\/p>\n
– Departs Belfast on Monday, March 7 to arrive in London on Friday, March 11<\/p>\n
LONDON, England, March 2 – Six British TV celebrities will swap the luxuries of dry land for a taste of life at the extreme as they take to a Volvo Ocean Race boat and attempt to sail around the United Kingdom in the BT Sport Relief Challenge: Hell on High Seas.<\/p>\n
The challenge, which begins on Monday, March 7, will see BBC The One Show presenter Alex Jones, fellow BBC presenters Angellica Bell and Ore Oduba, Formula 1 host Suzi Perry, stand-up comedian Hal Cruttenden and comedy actress Doon Mackichan jump onboard the Volvo Ocean 65 boat for the ultimate offshore challenge.<\/p>\n
The challenge departs from Belfast, Northern Ireland on Monday, March 7, and will include the crew living, eating and sleeping (if they can), as well as actually sailing the high-tech Volvo Ocean Race boat as they attempt to sail around the coast of mainland UK, to arrive in London five days later on Friday, March 11.<\/p>\n
With mountainous seas and freezing cold temperatures, the voyage promises to be physically, mentally and emotionally exhausting for the celebrities, many of whom have never set foot on a racing boat before \u2013 but luckily for them, they have some experienced heads to call upon.<\/p>\n
Briton Ian Walker, the last winner of the Volvo Ocean Race in 2014-15 as skipper and a double Olympic silver medallist, will lead the crew during the challenge.<\/p>\n
He will be joined by an experienced team of Volvo Ocean Race veterans; his Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing crewmate Phil Harmer, Team SCA\u2019s Dee Caffari and Sara Hastreiter, Dongfeng Race Team\u2019s Graham Tourell and Volvo Ocean Race meteorologist Gonzalo Infante.<\/p>\n
Walker, the first British skipper to win the Volvo Ocean Race, said, \u201cIt will be the second week of March and the sea and air temperature for this BT Sport Relief Challenge: Hell on High Seas will be as cold as anything we faced in the Southern Ocean during the last Volvo Ocean Race.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the sea is rough, you haven\u2019t slept for days and you are drenched to the core even simple tasks like brushing your teeth can seem impossible. This will be a tough challenge for the seasoned sailors let alone our celebrities. It could well be a true Hell on the High Seas.”<\/p>\n
At just 65 feet long, life onboard the boat – a racing machine designed purely for speed, durability and performance, with absolutely no creature comforts whatsoever – will be cramped and uncomfortable.<\/p>\n
Out on the ocean, there\u2019s nowhere to hide \u2013 and no excuses. The six celebrities will help to run all aspects of the boat, from hoisting and trimming the sails, to helming and keeping watch.<\/p>\n
Sailors generally operate in four-hour watch shifts \u2013 that means that they will spend four hours on deck, and then get four hours to sleep or relax. Unless there is a sail change to be performed. Then, it\u2019s all hands on deck.<\/p>\n
And they will be fuelled the Volvo Ocean Race way \u2013 with vacuum-packed, freeze-dried food providing them with around 6,000 calories per day.<\/p>\n
The money raised from the BT Sport Relief Challenge: Hell on High Seas will help transform the lives of some of the most disadvantaged people both at home in the UK and across the world\u2019s poorest communities.<\/p>\n
Launched in 2007, The One Show has become one of the most popular television shows on British television \u2013 and during the challenge, viewers can tune in for live updates every day from 1900 GMT. For those outside the UK, highlights and updates will be published on volvooceanrace.com.<\/p>\n
As they embark on this epic challenge, the crew needs your support. You can sponsor them at sportrelief.com\/highseas.<\/p>\n
via Race sailors lead celebs in BT Sport Relief challenge| Volvo Ocean Race<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Race sailors lead celebs in BT Sport Relief challenge Download Marc Bow\/Comic Relief Ltd Download Corinna Halloran\/Team SCA\/Volvo Ocean Race Download Matt Knighton \/ Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing \/ Volvo Ocean Race Six British celebrities will join race sailors as … Continue reading